Doctors

Every pregnancy is unique, needs to be cherished. Acceptance and emotional preparedness are vital tools to go through the nine months. Spousal and family support is important. A woman starts communicating emotionally with the unborn child the moment she realizes that she is pregnant. Register your pregnancy with a clinic or obstetrician the moment you realize you are pregnant. Antenatal care will ensure that any problems are detected and dealt with promptly. All essential information and care is afforded to the pregnant mother preparing her for delivery.

Diet can never be over emphasized. Nutritional health is important for tissue growth and body maintenance for both mother and baby. We are unique individuals so our experiences are different from our mothers. There is need to maintain a healthy diet despite being pregnant. During pregnancy identify foods that cause gastric upset so as to minimize chances of vomiting in pregnancy (Hypermisis Gravidium)

Many drugs are known to be able to cross the placental barrier and have adverse effects on pregnancy during the first trimester (First three months of the pregnancy) Drugs should be avoided unless really necessary. It is this period when most major fetal organs are being established. Smoking is hazardous to pregnancy. There is high rate of spontaneous abortions, congenital abnormalities, fetal and neonatal deaths associated with smoking “Myles textbook for midwives 15th edition”.

Alcohol is also detrimental to the fetal growth in utero and should be avoided. A healthy body and a healthy mind make a complete being. Exercises done in moderation and taken regularly enhance tissue perfusion. Exercises also help alleviate stress and help a pregnant woman go through any challenges pregnancy may bring.

Prevention of mother to child transmission of HIV(PMTCT). Every pregnant mother should know their status for proper management of mother and the child after birth. Testing HIV positive is not a death penalty. With proper management babies are testing HIV negative. Shared confidentiality with the significant other is vital. For those who test HIV negative at conception, bear in mind that the baby can be infected during pregnancy birth and during breastfeeding .Continued counseling helps parents to maintain healthy living and remain negative. No other food is superior to breast milk when it comes to infant feeding .However, should breastfeeding become impossible informed choices should be made. It is important that before the baby arrives the parents are confident of the method they are going to use.

Ask your obstetrician to get you in touch with the pediatrician who is going take care of your baby. This helps you to make an informed choice rather than being forced to make a decision when the baby is born. Remember babies who are to breastfeed are to do so within the first hour of delivery.

Stick with breast milk or formula In most cases, breast milk is the ideal food for babies. If breast-feeding isn’t possible, use infant formula. Healthy newborns don’t need water, juice or other fluids.

Feed your newborn on demand Most newborns need eight to 12 feedings a day: about one feeding every two to three hours.

Expect variations in your newborn’s eating patterns Your newborn won’t necessarily eat the same amount every day. During growth spurts; often at two to three weeks after birth and again at six weeks after birth: your newborn might take more at each feeding or want to be fed more often. Respond to early signs of hunger, rather than keeping a strict eye on the clock.

Consider each feeding a time to bond with your newborn Hold your newborn close during each feeding. Look him or her in the eye. Speak with a gentle voice. Use each feeding as an opportunity to build your newborn’s sense of security, trust and comfort.

Know when to ask for help If you’re having trouble breast-feeding, ask a lactation consultant or your baby’s doctor for help; especially if every feeding is painful or your baby isn’t gaining weight. If you haven’t worked with a lactation consultant, ask your baby’s doctor for a referral or check with the obstetrics department at a local hospital.

Trust your instincts: and your newborn’s
You might worry that your newborn isn’t eating enough, but babies usually know just how much they need. Don’t focus on how much, how often or how regularly your newborn eats. Instead, look for:

• Steady weight gain
• Contentment between feedings
• By the fifth day after birth, at least six wet diapers and three or more bowel movements a day

Contact the doctor if your newborn isn’t gaining weight, wets fewer than six diapers a day or shows little interest in feedings.

Be aware of the foods you should avoid while pregnant.These foods include hot dogs, deli meat, shrimp, lobster, soft cheeses, alcohol and caffeine. You are now eating to nourish your body and to make sure that the small fetus inside of you gets proper nutrition as well.This means consuming more fruits and vegetables, drinking a lot of water, eating a balanced diet and taking pre-natal vitamins

Create a space for the new baby.It is a good idea to give the baby his/her own room and the rooms should include a crib, a changing area, a rocking chair and some toys. You can also add extras and spruce up the room with baby art and decorations.

Mentally prepare yourself for the task at hand, (lasts all day for months!), the alterrations in your lifestyle, the changes in your weekend routine, the inevitable pain that lies ahead and the way your life will dramatically change forever after that big day not too far ahead in the future.Mentally prepare yourself for everything and make sure you are ready when you make the choice to embrace on

Modern drugs are highly effective at preventing mother-to-child transmission of HIV. When combined with other interventions, including formula feeding, a complete course of treatment can cut the risk of transmission to below 2%. Even where resources are limited, a single dose of medicine given to mother and baby can cut the risk in half.

What drugs Should I take?

The drugs that can reduce the risk of hiv transmission from a mother to her baby are called antiretroviral (ARV) drugs.ARVs are the drugs that are taken by people living with HIV to prevent them from becoming ill

The most important time for a HIV positive pregnant women to take ARVs to prevent her baby becoming infected is during labour. Depending on your particular cicumstances it may be suggested that you take ARVs at any other times as well. Deciding exactly which ARV to take and when to take them can be quite difficult, because there is a need to balance a number of different things, including :

– Your health as an HIV positive pregnant woman
– Reducing the risk of HIV being passed to your baby
– The possibility of developing ARV side effects
– The possibility of drugs causing harm to you baby

There may also be a different between which drugs you would ideally take and which ones it is actually possible for you to take, as there is considerable variation worldwide in the cost of ARVs and their avilabilty

Should I Breastfeed?

HIV is found in breastmilk, and if you breastfeed there is a significant chance of passing HIV to your baby. So if you have access to safe safe breast milk substitutes (formula) then you are advised not to breastfeed

Never, ever leave your baby unsupervised, even for a minute. Children will drown in less than an inch of water. So gather all supplies (Soap, towel, clean diaper, clean clothes, etc) you’ll need ahead of time, and keep at least one hand on your baby while he/she’s in the water.

The bathroom should be comfortably warm because babies get chilled quickly

Dont put your baby in the bath tub when the water is still running

Make the family tub safe : Bathtubs are extremely slippery, so outfit yours with a rubber bath mat for more secure seating. A cushioned spout cover can protect your baby’s head from painful bumps. Also, be sure that any sliding glass shower doors are made from safety glass

Make the bathwater comfortably warm (test it with your wrist or the inside of your elbow to make sure it’s not too hot). Babies and toddlers generally prefer a much cooler tub than you probably do

Fill the tub with only 2 to 4 inches of water.

For children who can sit up, a bath ring can provide you with an extra “hand” but dont let it give you an extra sense of security; babies can tip over or get trapped under them, so its no substitute for keeping your eye and a hand on your baby at all times

Teach your baby not to stand in the tub.

Wash your baby in plain water if you want to,as long you clean the diaper zone and skin folds well. Soaps and shampoos can your baby’s skin and may cause rashes. If you do use soap, choose a mild one designed for babies and use it sparingly. To avoid having your baby sit too long in soapy water, play at the beginning of your bath and save shampoo and soap for the end.

Don’t use bubble baths. They may be irritating to the urethra, which it turn might increase the risk of urinary tract infections

Keep electric appliances (like hair dryers and curling irons) away from the tub.

Gather all necessary bath supplies, and lay out a towel, a clean diaper, and clothes.Make sure the room is comfortably warm so your baby doesnt get chilled. Fill the tub with about 3 inches of water that feels warm and but not hot, to the inside of of your wrist; about 90 degrees fahrenheit(32 degrees celsius) or a few degrees warmer. Bring your baby to the bath area and undress her/him completely

Gradually slip your baby into the tub feet first, using one hand to support her/his neck and head. Pour cupfuls of bath water regularly so your baby doesnt get too cold. Use mild soap sparingly(too much dries out your baby’s skin). Wash her/him with your hand or a washcloth from top to bottom, front and back. Start by washing her scalp with a wet, soapy cloth. Rinse the soap from the cloth and use it to gently clean her eyes and face. If dried mucus has collected in the corner of your baby’s nostrils or eyes,dab it several times with a small section of a moistened washcloth to soften it before you wipe it out. As for your baby’s genitals, a routine washing is all that’s needed. Rinse your baby thoroughly with cufuls of clean water, and wipe her with a clean washcloth.

Wrap your baby in a hooded towel and pat her dry. If her skin is dry or if she has a bit of diaper rash, you might want to apply a mild lotion after her bath